Bridle-bit



(Nb Model'.)

J. H. JONES.

- 4 'BRIDLE BIT. "No. 248,181. Patented Oct. 11,1881.

Wh JIYQJ, .EWIe/W 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JAMES H. JONES, OF LANSINGBURG, NEYV YORK.

BRl DLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,181, dated October 11, 1881,

Application tiled September 2, 1881 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, JAs. H. JONEs, of Lansin gburg, inthe county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a bridle-bit which can be readily detached from the cheek-pieces, and which can be easily locked therewith without the use of keys, springs, or other like fastening devices; also, to provide a detachable bit which can be passed through the horses mouth and then engaged with the cheek-pieces, after which, by releasing the bit from the operators hand, it will turn so as to lock with the cheek-pieces, and so remain, by reason of gravity and the pressurein the horses month, until turned back and disengaged from the cheek-pieces by hand.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of the bit. Big. 2 is a side view of the plate.

A indicates the bit, which is made separate from the cheek-pieces, in order that it can be readily passed through the mouth of the animal to be bridled.

This bit is composed of a bow-shaped and rounded center piece or bar, a, with the reduced end portions, a, and the flat lockingbuttons B at the outer extremities of the said reduced ends. These reduced parts a of the bit are rounded, so as to turn in perforations through the cheek-pieces, presently referred to, the buttons and the shoulders a atthe ends of the center portion of the bit being, respectively, on opposite sides of the cheek-pieces, in

sponding to the diameter of the button at the end of the bit, so that the button can be passed through the slot. The central portion of said slot is slightly enlarged, as at c, and its ends made tapering, which conformation corresponds to a section taken transversely through the button at its inner end.

On the outer side of the cheek-piece, and alongside of its slot, is a stop, F, one side of which is flush with the wall at one of the sides of the slot, while the upper side of this stop is at an angle to a line taken from end to end of the slot. Now when the side straps are secured to the cheek-pieces the slots of the cheek-pieces will be at such angle for receiving the fiat buttons on the bit that when the horse is 'bridled and the bit passed through its mouth and its buttons passed through said slots the bowed part of the bit will be in a raised position. It, then, the bit he released, the said bowed portion will be turned down both by gravity and by pressure of theanimals tongue, so that as the bit turns in the bearin gs, which are furnished by said cheek-pieces, the fiat buttons will be turned round until they strike against and rest upon the upper inclined sides of the stops, which, as before stated, are at an angle to the length of the slots.

It will be obvious that numerous changes might be made in the relative arrangement of the bow-shaped part of the bit, the fiat locking-buttons, and the slots, and still preserve the characteristic features of myinvention and enable the bit to be first passed through the horses month, then engaged with the cheekpieces, and then, when released, automatically turned and locked.

This self-locking bit can, when desired, be readily detached by grasping one of its locking-buttons and turning'the bit so that one or both buttons can be disengaged.

The bit can be made light and cheap, and loops for reins can be secured to the cheekpieces. The straps will be secured in anyone of the holes in the cheek-pieces, according to the position required for the stops, so as to cause the buttons to be checked at the proper moment.

What I claim is 1. The bridle-bit consisting of a central part having at its ends the locking-buttons for engaging the bit with cheek-pieces, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the how-shaped bit having the end locking-buttons, of the cheek pieces adapted to receive the bit ends, and to admit of the same being turned so as to lock the bit, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the bit, of the cheek-pieces formed with central slots for receiving the locking-buttons on the ends of the bit, and also provided with stops, whereby, after the locking-buttons have been passed through the slots, the bit will turn until its buttons are checked by said stops, snbstan- 15 tially as described.

4. The combination, with the bow-shaped bit having the end locking-buttons, B, of the cheek-pieces O,provided with marginal strapopenings, a central slot, D, and stop F, sub- 20 stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. JONES.

Witnesses:

THos. W. CAMPBELL,

MORRIS S. VAN BUSKIRK. 

